Weather shields for plow blades



July 8, 1969' B- sKRuKRuD 3,454,108-

WEATHER SHIELDS FOR PLOW BLADES Filed Aug. 9, 1966 INVENTOR. BALDWIN ESzeumuo 3,454,108 WEATHER SHIELDS FOR PLOW BLADES Baldwin P. Skrukrud, Sacred Heart, Minn. 56285 Filed Aug. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 571,300 Int. Cl. A01b 15/00, 3/24 US. Cl. 172776 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to protective coverings for plow blades for storage purposes and in particular to improved weather shields for plow blades.

The storage and maintenance of plow blades have presented a problem to the owner and user for some time. Certain types of plow blades have a blade section or share with a mold board section attached thereto which extends up from the plow blade and engages the earth or soil during plowing to turn or roll the same. The materials normally used in plow blades are a heavy metal, such as iron or steel, which are subject to rust from exposure to the elements during storage. In a plowing operation, drag is created by the plow blade as it bites into and slices through the earth and is substantially increased by the presence of such rust and the nature of the soil being plowed, particularly where the soil adheres or sticks to the surface of the mold board. Thus, normal maintenance requires that the rust be removed from the surface of the mold board to increase efliciency and better characteristics during usage. This is accomplished by suitable scraping or other rust and dirt removal operations and the application of a lubricant or protective surface over the mold board during the storage of the same. Such maintenance is time consuming and some times impractical in modern day farming. In the past, special mold board constructions of a particular material other than metal have been used to prevent sticking of the soil and the formation of rust thereon. In addiiton, special types of plow blades with lubricant reservoirs built therein have been used, but such structures are expensive and require maintenance to keep dirt from clogging the oil passages.

The present invention is directed to an improved weather shield for plow blades in which a detachable shield is adapted to be placed over the blade during storage or periods of nonusage to cover and protect the mold board and plow share portions to prevent formation of rust thereon. The improved weather shield has a layer of nonmetallic porous material such as a matting or fibrous material which will hold a grease or oil or other petroleum type liquid lubricant for extended periods. This surface of the weather shield is brought into physical contact with the mold board and share portion of the plow blade to transfer lubricant from the material to the surface of the plow blade so as to lubricate the same or apply protective coating which will prevent the formation of rust thereon. The improved weather shield is hung on the top of the mold board and is provided with a flange or flanges at the upper and forward edges of the same which will prevent moisture from entering the sur- United States Patent 0 ice face between the weather shield and plow blade to collect and cause rusting on the exposed face of the mold board. The improved weather shield is formed to fit the contour of the mold board and blade portion to completely cover the same and will remain thereon due to the retaining action of the flange section and additional latches should they be necessary.

Therefore it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved weather shield for plow blades.

Another object of this invention is to provide in an improved weather shield, means for lubricating the surface of the plow blade to prevent formation of rust thereon.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved weather shield for plow blades which includes a surface to which a lubricating material may be applied and stored for extended periods eliminating continuing maintenance for plow blades.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a device of this type which reduces maintenance of plow blades and the formation of rust thereon, which is low in cost and easy to install and use.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a plow having plow blades with and without the improved weather shield mounted thereon,

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the improved weather shield, 1

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the improved weather shield of FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 3-3 therein, and

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of an alternate embodiment of the improved weather shield.

My improved weather shield for plow blades is shown applied to a plow indicated generally at 10 in FIGURE 1. Plow 10 shows a plurality of plow blades 12 attached thereto which plow blades include a mold board section 14 and a blade portion or share 15 which are connected together to form a conventional plow blade through suitable means such as rivets or bolts 18. The mold board section 14 includes a mounting bracket 20 on the back side thereof by means of which the plow blade is mounted to the frame of the plow. Also shown in FIGURE 1 and positioned on oneof the plow blades 12 is a weather shield 30 for the same. The weather shield 30 includes a shield frame 32 having the same general overall shape and contour as the mold board and blade or share portion combined such that the frame is adapted to fit over and be disposed adjacent and in contact with the plow blade. At the top edge of the shield frame is positioned a flange portion or section 34 and depending on the shape of the plow blade this flange portion may extend along one side thereof. The flange section is formed integral with the main body of the shield frame at the top and forward edges thereof or is suitably attached thereto. The flange portion extends transversely of the general extent of the shield frame with a downwardly or transversely extending edge to define an L shaped cross-section such that it is adapted to fit over and be retained on the mold board of the plow blade. The flange portion is solid across the face and along one edge of the shield frame to provide a cover between the main portion of the shield frame and the mold board for purposes to be later noted. The shield frame and the flange section thereof may be made of either a plastic or metal material which is relatively moisture impervious and is deformable or may be formed in construction to a similar curvature to that of the mold board.

On the flange side of the shield frame 32 is positioned a backing 40 of a porous nonmetallic material which is designed to hold a lubricant, such as grease or oil or other petroleum base material, upon application thereto. The backing material 40 is suitably applied, such as by gluing or through other means, to the back face of the shield frame over the entire extent of the same and at a uniform thickness. This material may preferably be of the fabric matting type or may be of a sponge deformable plastic which will hold the lubricant and will apply the lubricant to the face of the mold board when the weather shield is mounted thereon. Such a lubricant would be applied to the exposed surface of the backing or matting material by application of a brush or by spreading of the same thereon during normal maintenance periods with the lubricant soaking into and remaining in the backing material for extended periods such that whenever the shield is used, a certain amount of the lubricant will adhere to the face of the mold board, as will be hereinafter defined.

The weather shield is normally positioned on the plow blade during the period when the plow blade is not in use for plowing. It acts as a protective cover to prevent formation of rust through exposure of the plow blade to rain and other elements so that the mold board does not become scoured or rusted. With the mold board positioned on the plow blade, the flange section 34 will conform to and project over the back side of the mold board enclosing the backing material 40 therebetween so as to position the same in contact with the surface of the mold board and blade portion of the blade. The forward end of the flange section 34 will be disposed along and over the forward edge of the mold board and plow blade, as shown in the drawings. It will be recognized that the flange section may be included on more than one side depending upon the shape of the plow blade and if desired may extend partially over other sides. It is pre ferable, however, that the flange portion be positioned over the upper portion of the mold board to protect and cover the same so that moisture cannot fall in direct contact on the mold board or collect thereon.

With the weather shield positioned on the plow blade in this manner, it will normally be retained thereon with the matting in contact with the face surface of the mold board and plow share during the storage period. The lubricant in the matting will be in part transferred to the surface of the mold board and plow share to lubricate the same and prevent formation of rust thereon. The flange section 34 will normally retain the weather shield on the mold board. Similarly the weather shield will be curved to fit flat against the plow blade so that there should be little opportunity of wind removing the same by getting between the weather shield and mold board. However, to insure that the weather shield may be retained on a plow blade, a suitable spring operated clamp or hook as is shown in phantom at 60 in FIGURE 1 may be included thereon to secure the weather shield on three sides thereof. In addition, the flange sections may be included on more than one side, as for example on several sides to insure positive positioning of the weather shield on the mold board and to insure that it will not accidentally be removed. Such additional flange sections can extend entirely across the edges of the weather shield such as at the top and forward edge as indicated at 34 to keep out rain and moisture as well as mount the weather shield on the plow blade. However, such additional flange sections, particularly if the portion of the mold board is not located as to be directly contacted by the elements such as falling rain, need not include the provision for complete enclosure of the mold board and matting.

The weather shield or the shield frame may be made of a molded plastic material to obtain the desired curvature of the frame such that it will mate or be disposed adjacent the mold board and plow share of a plow blade. Similarly the weather shield may be made of a stamped metal such that the curvature will be pressed into the frame. It similarly may be made of a flat piece of thin flexible metal and with the curvature defined by formed ribs thereon. Thus as shown in the alternate embodiment in FIGURE 4, the frame of the weather shield will be made of a thin flexible sheet stamped or cut to a particular shape simulating the overall configuration of a mold board and plow share. Suitably attached to the outer surface of the frame are a pair of reinforcing ribs 50 which may be secured thereon by welding or riveting with the ribs being bent to curve or bend the shield frame. Further the flange sections may be formed integral therewith or separately and suitably attached thereto to provide the overall structure as described in the before mentioned embodiment. The inner or side opposite the face will mount the matting (not shown) which will be lubricated in the same manner and may be formed of a variety of materials capable of holding a lubricant. To insure that the weather shield will mount on a mold board and be disposed in contact with it at the matting side, additional spring clips attached as at 54 in FIGURE 4 and including conventional coil springs 53 with hooks 52 at the extremities of the same may be employed. Such hooks will fit around the outer or exposed surface of the weather shield and extend behind the back of the plow share and mold board to urge the weather shield into contact with the mold board and to insure positive positioning thereon such that it would not be accidentally dislodged.

It will be recognized that variations in the shape of the weather shield maybe employed as well as variations in the material used in the forming of the frame of the same. Similarly the matting material which will hold the oil or grease thereon to lubricate the surface of the plow blade and weather shield may vary in type.

In considering this invention it should be recognized that the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative only.

What is claimed is:

1. A weather shield for plow blades comprising, a shield frame made of a moisture impervious material and formed with a main portion to fit over the face contour of a mold board of a plow blade, flange section means included on at least one side edge of the shield frame extending transversely of the main portion thereof and adapted to fit over and engage at least one edge of the mold board of the plow blade to retain the shield frame on the mold board, said flange section means being joined together to provide a protective cover as well as an attaching means for mounting the shield frame on the mold board, a porous nonmetallic material attached to one side of the shield frame and extending over the surface thereof and adapted to be impregnated with a petroleum type lubricant, said porous nonmetallic material being positioned under the flange section means of the shield frame to be enclosed thereby and adapted to be disposed in contact with the mold board and blade portion of a plow blade with the flange section means preventing passage of moisture between the shield frame and plow blade such that the porous nonmetallic material transfers lubricant thereon to the mold board and plow blade, and means in addition to the flange section means to retain the weather shield on the plow blade, said last named means including spring biased catch members attached to a face of the weather shield opposite from that to which the nonmetallic lubricant absorbent material is positioned with the catch members being adapted to engage and fit around the edges of the mold board and blade.

2. The weather shield for plow blades of claim 1 in which the moisture impervious material for the shield frame is a thin deformable metallic sheet and including reinforcing curved strips thereon to provide the contour of the mold frame of the plow blade such that when the weather shield is placed on the plow blade, the nonmetallic and lubricant absorbent material will be disposed in contact with the surface of the mold board and in which the spring bias catches are attached to the reinforcing strips on the face remote from the nonmetallic material and adapted to be positioned over the shield frame and the mold board to secure the weather shield on the plow blade.

3. A weather shield for plow blades comprising, a shield frame made of a moisture impervious material and formed with a main portion to fit over the face contour of a mold board of a plow blade, means including flange sections on at least one side edge of the shield frame extending transversely of the main portion thereof and adapted to fit over and engage at least one edge of a mold board of a plow blade to retain the shield frame on the mold board, and a porous nonmetallic material attached to one side of the shield frame and extending over the surface thereof and adapted to be impregnated with a petroleum type lubricant, said porous nonmetallic material being adapted to be disposed in contact with the mold board and blade portion of the plow blade whenever the Weather shield is mounted thereon to transfer the lubricant on a nonmetallic material thereto, said moisture impervious material for the shield frame being a curved plastic plate with the flange sections being attached to at least one edge of the same to project over the nonmetallic lubricant absorbent material and enable the shield to be mounted on a plow blade.

4. The weather shield for plow blades of claim 3 in which the flange sections of the shield frame are formed along two edges of the shield frame and project therefrom to cover the space between the weather shield frame and the mold board enclosing the porous nonmetallic lubricant material therebetween to prevent moisture from entering between the plow blade and the weather shield.

5. The Weather shield for plow blades of claim 4 in which the flange sections on the shield frame are positioned across a top edge of the shield frame and along a forward edge of the same when the shield frame is mounted on a plow blade.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 310,249 1/1885 Brown 172-755 724,598 4/ 1903 Mills 172-747 1,129,971 3/ 1915 Fleehearty 172755 X 3,126,969 3/ 1964 Sewell 172-747 X ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner. 

